Everyone gets a Buca in 2017! In addition to a new Buca restaurant in Vaughan, an expanded all-day Bar Buca concept coming soon to Yonge and Eg, and another Buca restaurant is planned for north-west corner at Yonge and St. Clair.

The Filipino fast food chain can’t open soon enough. Incoming locations in Mississauga and Scarborough (expected in early 2018) will be Toronto’s first chance to taste golden ChickenJoy fried chicken and sweet spaghetti studded with ham and hot dogs.

This beloved AYCE sushi restaurant from Markham is set to land downtown in the new year. The 200-seat restaurant complete with patio is going in at 655 Bay Street at Elm Street and will offer an expansive selection of premium sushi including aburi (blow-torched) and oshi (pressed) varieties along with seafood-centric grilled, fried, and baked dishes.

The popular Leslieville brunch spot is moving from Queen East to 265 Broadview Avenue in the spring. With a greater capacity, fans of A.M poutine and Moroccan scrambled eggs might finally find relief from the long line-ups on weekends.

Lapin

The folks behind Cava and Chabrol have been busy in 2017. Tanto, a new Argentine-inspired restaurant is newly opened on Ossington, and Lapin destined for King Street West is already being plotted for 2018.

Mira

Going in at 420A Wellington Street West, this new Peruvian restaurant is the newest project from ICONINK, the same hospitality group behind Byblos, Figo, Patria, and numerous other upmarket Toronto restaurants.

This nerd bar billed as the “terrifying sequel to Vancouver’s Storm Crow Tavern and Storm Crow Alehouse” is taking over the Victorian mansion at 580 Church Street in the new year. Expect a “board games and card games galore and sci-fi TV around the clock,” served up alongside a menu of fantastical foods likes Teenage Mutant Fried Pickles, Nachos Apocalypto, and Attack of the Killer Tomato Soup.